A stroke play qualifying round is played today with the low 16 boys and eight girls advancing to match play Wednesday and Thursday.

"It's a great feeling when there's no favorite because you go in with more confidence because you feel like you have a better chance to finish real well and even win," said Scotty Hudson, a senior at Christ Presbyterian Academy who advanced to the match play quarterfinals last year where he lost to Winfield Temple. "Having a returning champ is kind of intimidating, but this year, being one of the guys who played well last year is good motivation and makes you want to work harder going in."

Jacob Sherlin could be considered the boys favorite because of how well he played in the qualifying round last year.

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Hendersonville senior Jacob Sherlin, who has played in the Schooldays since he was 12, scored the lowest of any returning players by firing a 65 and finishing in fourth place last year.(Photo: File / The Tennessean)

The Hendersonville senior, who has played in the Schooldays since he was 12, scored the lowest of any returning players by firing a 32-33 65 and finishing in fourth place. He lost, however, in the first round of match play to Temple 4-and-3.

"Honestly, I'm hitting the ball pretty good right now so I think I should win," Sherlin said. "I've gotten to know that course pretty good over the years and that gives me some confidence - it's just a little driver/wedge in there."

Some say they will miss there not being a returning champ with a target on them.

"I kind of like it when there's a favorite because it gives you someone who you want to beat," said Nicole Page, a senior at Franklin Road Academy who lost in a playoff last year in the match play semifinals to Sullivan 1-up. "You kind of set your mind to kind of go after them."

Hudson said he played several practice rounds at McCabe because it is a unique course.

"A lot of people say McCabe is a shorter course and you don't need to see it before the tournament," Hudson said. "But I like to see it because I'm a guy that if I hit the ball long there I don't know where it's going; it could go left or right. It's good to know where I can miss it. And the only way you can do that is by practicing there."